Punjab Govt to Use Anti-Malaria Medicine to Treat Coronavirus Patients

In the wake of the rising number of Coronavirus cases, the Punjab government has decided to treat seriously ill patients with chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.

Doctors in China, the US, and Italy have been using both anti-malarial drugs for critical COVID-19 patients.

Just recently, the US Food and Drug Authority (FDA) has also formally authorized the doctors to use chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. FDA’s seal of approval has prompted the Punjab government to take this decision.

Punjab government has already procured 50,000 tablets of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.

According to the Chief Executive Mayo Hospital Lahore, Prof. Dr. Asad Aslam Khan, doctors at the hospital are using anti-malarial drugs to treat serious patients. Initial assessment suggests that both drugs bear positive results in patients.

1,000-Bed Hospital

Among other key steps, the Punjab government has set upa 1,000-bed hospital at Expo Center in Lahore.

1,900 doctors, nurses, and other medical staff have been deployed at the field hospital which will also have 35 ventilators.

The hospital has been divided into three parts. Two portions have been dedicated to isolating mild and severe Coronavirus patients separately. Whereas, seriously ill patients will be treated in the third portion.

Dr. Asad Khan, Chief Executive Mayo Hospital, has been chosen to supervise operations at the 1,000-bed field hospital.

Rescue 1122 has been taken on board to help move the patients to and from all across the province.

Punjab government has also initiated the recruitment of doctors, nurses, and medics to tackle the Coronavirus pandemic. If cases increase in the weeks to come, Punjab government plans to rent two three-star hotels which will be used as quarantine facilities.